Outokumpu, with various operations in North and South America, delivers 5,000 tonnes of Forta LDX 2101 duplex stainless steel for the clarifier parts of two copper mines. Deliveries for the two mine projects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have started and they are estimated to continue until May 2016.
Outokumpu stainless steel will be used in the thickeners and tanks in the clarifying section of the copper mine. Forta LDX 2101 was chosen for the equipment due to its excellent mechanical properties, wear resistance and corrosion resistance. Stainless steel for these projects is produced at Outokumpu plants in Avesta and Degerfors, Sweden and it is delivered in 2 meter wide plates that results in fewer plates to manage at the construction site and decreases the number of welds. Stainless steel is sustainable material as it doesn’t require much maintenance during the lifecycle of the thickeners and tanks and once they reach the end of their lifecycle, stainless steel can be fully recycled.
SENET is the current engineering, procurement and construction contractor for the respective projects and is leading the way on integrating stainless steel construction materials into the design of copper projects. SENET’s Procurement Director, Scott Hollywood, states that Outokumpu’s quality and service rank highly in the industry.